No internet connection and cant ping anything

Help.

One of my computers just recently lost ability to connect to internet. This computer hooks up to a DLink DI-713p wired/wireless router. I have another computer and laptop that also hook up via the router and they are working fine.

The problem computer is a 3 year old Dell P3 866Mhz with Win98SE OS. Two times in the past two years this same computer has lost its internet connection. In those situations I was under Dell support and the only solution after trying various things was to reinstall the OS and it would solve the problem; maybe the TCP/IP or Winsock was messed up and reinstalling appeared to fix things. I didnt like having to reinstall the OS (after backing up and reformating the C drive) but it worked.

Anyway my current situation is slightly different in that I noticed the NIC card indicator lights were not flashing as they usually do and I got an windows message that said something like:
"Your 3Com bla,bla NIC card is not working properly. Please check windows networking troubleshooter" or something to that effect. I tried to ping the router IP address 192.168.0.1 but it wouldnt ping so I uninstalled/reinstalled the NIC card but no change. Figured it was the NIC and bought a new one but still no luck. Since OS reinstall had worked in the past I tried this.

I am currently with a clean OS reinstall, drivers installed, no conflicts, TCP/IP settings setup as usuall but still cant ping anything and no internet connection.

Is it possible to ever have a hardware motherboard problem that prevents internet connection from working?

I dont know what else to try as I have tried two new NICs, reinstalled time and time again, verified ethernet wire is ok, the other computer on the router is working, etc. I even hooked up the problem computer directly to my cable modem (temporarily taking router out of the picture) but I just dont seem to be able to ping anything hence am not surprised cant see internet.

Any ideas? I do not know what else to try. Help!

Thanks,
techgeek

I'd steal the hardware from a computer where you know it is working. Use the same port on the router, the same network cable, and the same NIC in your computer which isn't working at the moment. Then, if that doesn't work, you know it is a software problem, otherwise there is a hardware problem.

If it's a software problem, has the computer got a good ip address? Are you using DHCP on the router? If so, has the computer been assigned an IP address? If you're setting details manually, are the settings correct?

Thanks for the ideas.

The computer I am replying from is a WinXPHome OS and connects thru the router fine. I had swapped out its network cable with the computer that was not working and that did not help which led me to believe the network cable is good. I have also tried switching the network cable (from the working computer) among the 3 router ports and all are working.

I guess what boggles my mind is that I think I have tried to remove the router from the problem by taking the network cable from the cable modem directly to the non working computer which is how I connected couple years ago before getting the router. In this case since the cable modem appears to be working if I bypass the router and I still cant connect (or ping) then must it then be my TCP/IP settings or the computer hardware. Does it make sense to try and debug it this way without the router for now? This is what I had tried in the past whenever I had a problem and it would work but now it doesnt.

Since I have installed two different new NICs I am thinking the NIC is good and I wonder if there is anyway something else hardware wise on the computer can make it not connect, ie. internal to the computer is there anything else other than the NIC that can fail hardware wise with regard to network connectivity such as the motherboard?? Other than not able to connect to the internet the computer is behaving fine.

Would it help to include ipconfig output?

Thanks.

I think I would leave the router in place, as then you know that the current setup is working because the other computer is ok.

So, unless there is a problem with the hardware inside the computer, you seem to know that the networking hardware (NIC, cable) are working fine.

I think an ipconfig may help.

Also, take a look at the following link, and see if you can reinstall TCP/IP to see if that helps:

http://www.petri.co.il/reinstall_tc..._windows_xp.htm

Sounds like good idea to keep router in the mix since the other computer is working thru it.

Here is ipconfig /all from the problem computer:

Windows 98 IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . : rvvs30-l1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . : 68.2.16.30
Node Type . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
NetBIOS Scope ID. . . . . . :
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . : No
NetBIOS Resolution Uses DNS : Yes

0 Ethernet adapter :
Description . . . . . . . . : PPP Adapter.
Physical Address. . . . . . : 44-45-53-54-00-00
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . :
Lease Expires . . . . . . . :

1 Ethernet adapter :
Description . . . . . . . . : Linksys Compact USB Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-10-60-E9-57-F5
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.103
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . :
Lease Expires . . . . . . . :

With regard to reinstalling TCP/IP my problem computer is win98SE and dont know if I can follow the instructions in the URL which looks like it is for WinXP (sorry for the confusion as my working computer is WinXP but problem computer is Win98SE). Last night I did another clean OS install. Since it is a Dell PC I only have a OS recovery CD which lets me wipe out the C: drive and then install the OS, then I did the chipset, video, soundblaster and finally NIC driver installs; no device conflicts. Then I go into Network settings and select the TCP/IP for the NIC and set the gateway, ip and subnet, and dns per the above ipconfig settings. Since it is a clean OS install I was hoping that this would insure that TCP/IP was ok. In my original post I had said I had two occurences in the past when I couldnt get to internet and in those cases reinstalling the OS would fix it but not now. That is what led me to think NIC card but after two NIC's I wonder if anything internal in computer can be bad; but since it is almost a 4 year old Dell I dont think I can really upgrade the motherboard.

My hope is somehow there is still something else software or setting related which will save the day.

In case it is of any help here is the ipconfig /all from the computer that is working:

Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : homenew
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 CT Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0E-A6-27-C0-D2
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.181
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.2.16.30
68.1.208.30
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Friday, June 11, 2004 8:22:24 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Friday, July 23, 2004 12:22:24 AM

From the router web interface:
IP Address 68.98.212.155 Static IP
Subnet Mask 255.255.255.224
Gateway 68.98.212.129
Domain Name Server 68.2.16.30, 68.1.208.30
and DHCP is enabled. On the problem computer I have always gone into the TCP/IP and set the gateway, IP and subnet and a DNS but on my new computer when I hooked it up I didn't have to do anything and internet would connect via the router; I am assuming this is because DHCP is enabled and it automatically assigned a IP of 192.168.0.181.

From the problem computer I can only ping 127.0.0.1 or the assigned IP (192.168.0.103) but nothing else; cant ping the router 192.168.0.1.

From the working computer I can ping pretty much anything.

Thanks again.

ok, sorry about that link. Didn't realise that you were 98 and a new install of the OS.

One thing I have noticed is that there are two network cards on the 98 computer. One seems to have a good address, the other doesn't (0.0.0.0). I'd simplify the situation and get down to just the one network card, and then see what happens.

Actually I dont know what the PPP Adapter is but I wonder if it has something to do with my phone modem.?

I only have the one NIC installed. I must admit I never knew to run ipconfig before so dont know if it was like this PPP Adapter was always there in the past but I am pretty sure that it also shows up in the network properties. There are 2 adapters and then for each adapter there seems to be a TCP/IP defined although I only remember ever touching the TCP/IP that was related to the NIC card.

I am at work now but when I get home I suppose I could remove the PPP Adapter from network properties which I believe will remove the associated TCP/IP. Cant hurt to remove it and see what happens?

Although the computer came with the modem I cant recall really ever using it.

Will report back later tonight after removing the PPP adapter.

Thanks,
techgeek

The PPP adapter is the modem card.

Why is dhcp not enabled on the problem pc? It has a correct ip address but you have done that staticly.

If you enable dhcp and you don't get a ip address its a faulty nic. Since you are using a USB network adapter there is also the issue of a malfunctioning USB port. I would suggest a nic not a usb adapter as a test in this same unit.

Thanks for the confirmation on the PPP adapter being the modem card.

My ignorance here but what does it mean to enable DHCP on my problem win98se PC? Is it enabled by default but gets turned off when I go into the TCP/IP settings in network properties and set the static IP, subnet, gateway, and dns?

I suppose the only reason I am doing it staticly is that before I got the router the cable company told me to do it that way but I suppose now with the router I have it entered there and do not need to force the problem PC to be 192.168.0.103. It always worked before staticly but I am game to give anything a try.

With regards to the NIC originally when I had my first issue about a week ago I felt it was a faulty NIC but tried everything short of getting a new NIC with no luck; the old NIC indicator lights looked funny so I bought a new PCI card NIC. But this also didnt work althought the lights looked more normal. I returned this to COMPUSA and instead of getting a 2nd PCI card NIC got the USB adapter NIC thinking my USB was working with my scanner and printer. I suppose it could be two brand new NIC's not working.

Does anyone know if there is any way in which hardware wise there could be something else in the problem PC such as the motherboard that appears fine but could also prevent the internet connection or TCP/IP or winsock to work?

I am inclinced to think it is something I am missing but the fact that it always used to work this way and the other computer works in any port of the router, network cable good, a clean OS install always fixed it before leaves either 3 faulty NICS (the original old and 2 new) or something else I am missing.

I do have my new computer that has onboard LAN which is working. I am paranoid about screwing it up by trying something like installing one of the new NIC in it. Would I just move the network cable over to it, try it, and then remove the NIC when done to go back to the onboard LAN NIC?

I will try some things you both have suggested and report back.

Thanks for the help!
techgeek

There should be an option so that you can either select to manually enter the IP address, or use a DHCP server.



I don't think there is anything in the computer which should be stopping the NIC from working, since your computer seems to work fine for everything else.



You should be fine just to move your new NIC to your working computer, disable the onboard NIC then test network connections. Then, remove it from your computer, enable the onboard NIC and you should be back where you started. But I think this would be useful, because I am thinking that the NIC is probably at fault.

You can only do dhcp or static but not both. So click on use dhcp and don't put in a static address.

I would not suggest messing with the working machine to test the nic. No sense risking two inop machines.

I suspect the reason your static ip is not working is due to it being out of the ip range in the router. This is why I highly recommend using only dhcp and let the router assign you a address. It will also supply the dns and gateway entries automatically.

If you get a address than problem solved. If not then you can start looking at the nic. Cables have been tested so that is out of the loop.

Last but not least make sure any and all firewall software [both xPs and 3rd party] are disabled. This can prevent a ping from coming back to you and could have been the source of your issues to begin with.

edwinbrains & wanderer2,

After trying various things and one more NIC it is now working. But I am still not clear on exactly what fixed it.

Prior to the last NIC I had tried switching from static to DHCP but still nothing. ipconfig /all showed I was getting that 169.* (forgot to write it down but the same 169* I had seen in other posts that said DHCP wasn't able to find a correct IP). At this point I was still on my 2nd new NIC; the USB adapter version. I had forgotten to mention that when I returned my first PCI NIC that the COMPUSA tech had tested it and said it was working fine. Well after 1 or 2 more clean OS installs, etc. and with no luck I thought I would try one more NIC.

I returned the USB adapter NIC and again the COMPUSA tech said it was good. Got another NIC and tried various things with no luck.

1. Another clean OS install, drivers, no conflicts. DHCP. No luck with again the 169*.
2. Removed the modem since I never use it hoping maybe somehow it was conflicting with something. clean OS install, etc. no luck, again 169*.
3. Noticed that the router port lights was showing 100Mbs for the NIC connection whereas the other working computer was not lit or 10Mbs. I had seen this also on both of the previous new NICs also and had stumbled across a way in the NIC network adapter to change to 10Mbs instead of letting it autodetect; on the first two NICs it didnt fix anything although the router port light to the NIC indicated 10Mbs.

Well on a fluke I figured I would try the same thing on this 3rd NIC to see if I could get the 100Mbs to 10Mbs. It hadnt worked before but figured why not.

Instead of seeing if going from 100Mbs to 10Mbs would help with the internet connection I looked at the network properties identification tab and changed the work group name and computer name; I had actually setup networking for file sharing before and had setup a work group name of "HOMENET" and out of desperation thought maybe somehow this could help.

Well since I had to restart the computer again to make the changes I went first for the ipconfig /all instead of going to the web browser and to my surprise I get an IP assigned by the router. I bring up internet explorer and it works!!!

With it working I was paranoid to back of each of the changes to see which one did it so for now I will just leave it that it is working and make notes if I have to reinstall in the future.

I thank you both for the suggestions in the posts and thanks to the forum with all the useful info in the other posts, etc. I have learned a lot about debugging with ipconfig, the use of DHCP, etc.

Anyway it is working now and on to reinstalling other apps, etc.

Thanks again,
techgeek